This review may contain spoilers
It's brutal but phenomenal
I'm not surprised the theme of valuing life/family over money is coming up again and again in KDramas. I think this show hit it in a different way than say squid games, though. For that, the directors and screenwriters are brilliant, masterfully weaving a wonderfully complex and unique story from a common theme. The cast was great, the sequencing of the scenes was great, the scenery and effects were great, and the folklore was outstanding. I really appreciated the dive into shamanism and traditional folktales. I think the brutal part was the suspense, gruesomeness of the repetitive suicides, and the mental heinousness of the crimes by the family in order to maintain obscene, unnecessary wealth - all to be expected considering the theme and nature of the show. Nevertheless, I feel like I'm walking away from the show entirely brutalized lol I think a few years down the line I'd watch it again, but I think it'll be hard to forget the details and feel the same level of suspense as the first time around. It was hard not to binge this one in a day!Was this review helpful to you?
WOW !!!!
mba taeri gak usah diraguin si. aktingnya gila banget. terlalu bagus. aku langsung terpana. bikin penasaran tiap episode bikin pengen langsung lanjut ke eps berikutnya. kalo menurutku gak semenyeramkan itu si. ga ada yang terlalu gimana2. bagus banget. akting pemerannya juga bagus banget. ternyata bisa buat nangis juga. huhu. btw chemistry mbak taeri sm mas polisi bagus juga. kirain bakal berlayar taunya enggak heuheu. kalau di lihat dari jalan ceritanya seram si lebih ke terlalu kejam kenapa bisa ada kayak gitu. tapi semoga ini semua hanya karangan drama. ini kejadian nya kayak turun temurun gitu yaaWas this review helpful to you?
Definitely worth watching
The only thing that stopped me from watching it in one go was because I had to go to work and make a living. The story telling is gripping and at 12 episodes, it packs enough meat that it never drags. The characters make you doubt your judgment; is someone really that good or bad, or is there something behind their facade? You will care about every one, including the minor characters. The acting is superb. It's a very satisfying show.There is no romance, just hints here and there, and oh my, Oh Jung Sae, never thought I would ever be saying this, but you delivered one attractive ajusshi. At some point I was just hoping Hae Sang and San Yeong would get together. Of course, there's the young and bitter detective Hong Sae who never smiles, but I can see my younger teenage self crushing on him in high school. And then there's San Yeong who looks dishevelled most of the time. Kim Tae Ri really did well with this character; broken and cornered but still has a fighting spirit.
Overall, watch it. You won't regret.
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Kim Tae Ri does it again!
I'm reeling from the ending of this drama. I rarely post reviews of dramas anymore but here's the first one in 2023 that made me want to sit and type this out. This drama had times I was seriously creeped out, laughing, frustrated, lost and even sad. It's main theme is about greed and ultimately the price we pay for this deadly sin.PLOT:
I didn't quite get the synopsis of the drama and even the first episode made little sense to me. What attracted me to it was Kim Tae Ri and the reason why I stuck around was much more than that. The plot is investigative, creepy and very complex. While once we get to the climax, everything makes sense a lot of times I doubted whether the writer even knew what they wanted to ultimately write about or how they would go about resolving this absolutely intricate plot. The backstories seem frustrating in the beginning but ultimately that was the favourite part of the plot for me.
CHARACTERS:
This is a character-driven story. What happens in it from the beginning to the end are all choices that characters are actively making. It also makes you question about morals, sacrifices and what ultimately humanity is. What I love about the drama is that ultimately it shows that human beings are selfish to the core and the price we pay for our actions. At the same time, it contrasts with the fact that we - as selfish and scheming we are, are also creatures longing for love and acceptance. Sometimes we make choices for love or desire or sometimes we are aimlessly chasing the material world and fail to recognize the beauty of life around us.
ACTING:
Not much to say here. Kim Tae Ri absolutely nailed her role and I also loved the supporting cast. The actresses in the flashbacks did wonderful jobs as well. However what holds the drama together is surely Kim Tae Ri's performance and I am proud of the diversity in the projects she picks for herself.
ENDING:
A rather simple but realistic ending. All's not always well even if it ends well. We still carry the pain and trauma we went through. We should be brave enough to carry on living rather than just surviving.
SPECIAL MENTION: I usually find knocking sounds quite scary and this drama just amplifies that. The props, set and the special effects were really impressive for a 12-episode drama.
OVERALL:
It's a must-watch. This drama goes beyond darkness and horror- it's ultimately about the story of humans and the way we live life. I must say it also says to appreciate the life we have and be more conscious of the way we continue to live in it. Kindness and peace goes a long way.
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Riveting and a Breath of Fresh Air!
Kim Tae Ri has done is again. She keeps proving what an excellent actress she is and I am enjoying all her projects. Revenant is a gripping thriller-horror series that is a must watch in 2023 if for no other reason then for Kim Tae Ri's performance.The opening theme starts off with a strong and creepy vibe and the story is a slow build up of the suspense. However, the pacing is good as so much is happening in each episode. The ghostly visuals are really a unique take on horror in the form of shadows. So if you are faint of heart, this show is still enjoyable.
Folklore professor Haesang, Gu Sanyoung and officer Lee Hongsae work together to discover the identity and the mystery surrounding the evil spirit that has possessed Gu Sanyoung and is going on a murder spree. They are forced to try and solve the mystery through bits of information that Sanyoung's father left behind, along with other clues they slowly collect along the way starting with the 5 mysterious objects related to the evil spirit.
The story is captivating and the series has a high production value thus making is visually appealing. Most enjoyable was the chemistry between Hongsae and Sanyoung despite this not being a romance series as well as the final episode.
The final reveal of the spirit's story is done in the last 3 episodes. But with the evil spirit always aware of their actions, it's a race against time to get ahead.
With 12 episodes, this series is not difficult to binge. You'll enjoy every moment of it.
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Their acting skills Give a like if u do agree with me read my review
I should say Kim tae ri's acting is just spot on ik she acted for a very lil amount of drama but I still adore her the way she switched with the evil spirit and to herself it's just awesome I'm praising her acting skills and I should say the other casts acting was soo good aswell the way the grandma acted and the others is so cool. The way they cry was too real and every time Kim tae ri fell down I was like is she fine cause that fall looked too real it's as if she actually fell down and got injured and ik there was not that much romance I mean there wasn't even romance according to the ppl who was actually enjoying just for the horror parts but to me I saw a lot of interaction with the detective and Kim tae ri the way he looks at her and even in the last ep it was so good I'd be pleased if I get to know they r acting another kdrama or movie together as a fl and a ml a lil romance like celebrity would be totally fine with me but if they aren't it's fine aswell I mean it's their wish but I hope to see more dramas with Kim tae hee my heart was heartbroken after I watched 2521 but I loved their romance and that drama was a hit big hit in Korea and international countries let me stop talking bout it sry but I rlly adore Kim tae hee and the other casts work they came out with an incredible story which I will see again the last part from the last ep was rlly good it ended perfectly other than her losing her vision ofc and my review is in a positive side I should say no negatives and be happy :)Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The best drama in 2023
Watching this drama reminds me of the drama Pinocchio, even though it's a different genre, the plot of this drama has similar stages. This drama really has a very neat plot and minimal plot holes. With 12 episodes of this drama, it manages to present the plot in each episode very well. The story given in each episode has a very consistent quality and is not one-sided. This drama is very intense and gets more intense and gripping with each new episode.The acting of the actors also deserves thumbs up. We have succeeded in getting into the story of each actor so that when these actors are in danger or even die, feelings of pain and sadness really feel as if we have known them for a long time. This drama is a horror genre, but I often cry when I'm watching this drama.
The message of this drama, which I think is very good. We can know that even though ghosts are evil, we can also see that humans can be even more evil than ghosts. Where greed is the real ghost. Greed is a trait that eats away at the human heart and turns it into a breathing ghost. This drama is very extraordinary depicting human greed for worldly things. Where all the problems in this drama are not born because of ghosts, but because of human greed. This drama also shows how dangerous it is if we can't love ourselves. How dangerous it is when we become people who hurt ourselves, blame, and hate ourselves. At least, among the many bad things and bad people in this world, don't let us become one of them. If the world is mean to us, at least we have to be good to ourselves.
I was really saddened by Sanyeong's character who suffered from the past, and how hard she lived all this time. How spacious her heart is to care for her mother who has severe trauma when she also has trauma. When she had been living not for himself, and when she wanted to live for himself suddenly she was diagnosed with a disease. I feel like I want to hug Sanyeong, wants me to tell him that all this time she has lived very well. I hope in the future she can walk on the flower path.
Actually, I'm one of Hongsae Sanyeong's team compared to Haesang Sanyeong. I don't know what the writer made, but for me from the beginning of the episode, I felt that Haesang was not someone who pursues worldly things. This is proven at the end of the episode by donating all of his family's assets to the community. So I think Haesang is not the typical person who wants to have a romance genre in his life. Not to mention that during my drama marathon, I avoided all spoilers, so I didn't know that this drama was divided into two teams. But my honest opinion looking at Haesang and Sanyeong, they both feel more like two unfortunate people who met each other. They both could feel feelings of sadness for each other that others couldn't easily feel. But the two don't depend on each other, more like when you fall, you will be relieved when you see other people also fall, then you laugh together. Well, at least we're not ashamed to be alone. That's how they both look to me.
Haesang is such a pitiful character, he is forced to pay for his entire extended family's sins. He seems to be forced to take responsibility for a sin he did not commit. But I think Haesang lives up to it. And another reason why I can't see Haesang and Sanyeong's relationship as romantic is that they both met because of a 'ghost' in common. Every time they met they only talked about ghosts, Haesang wasn't interested in Gu Sanyeong, but she was attracted by the evil spirit that clung to her body. Likewise, Sanyeong is not interested in Yeom Haesang, but he needs Haesang's help to get rid of the evil spirit from his body. From the beginning of the conversation, the two of them never discussed themselves with each other, they weren't too curious about each other's lives unless they had something to do with ghosts. So I feel their relationship is more like partners in crime. And that's interesting, I feel like this kind of platonic relationship must exist in the real world.
This is a little different from Hongsae, from the past, like Hongsae, he was amazed by Sanyeong, with her hardworking nature. Hongsae, who at first didn't really know Sanyeong, was able to distinguish the real Sanyeong and not at the end of the episode. We know that all this time apart from chasing evil spirits, Hongsae has also been paying attention to Sanyeong. Although I don't know if Sanyeong also feels the same way. But at the end of the episode, it can be seen that the two of them are talking about themselves, not about ghosts.
I think this is one of the hints that the two of them have started to open up to each other. When they started talking about themselves. I feel that Hongsae is interested in Sanyeong, but he appreciates Sanyeong who is still going through a hard time. I don't know what Sanyeong's feelings for Hongsae are like, but I can realize that Hongsae likes Sanyeong secretly. He doesn't need to have Sanyeong, he just wants to be someone who can take care of Sanyeong. I think this is a very interesting thing, where I can see pure love in dramas in the Horror genre. Hongsae knows that what Sanyeong needs right now isn't a lover, but serenity, so he always tries to be beside Sanyeong.
I feel this drama has a bittersweet ending. I'm sad for the character who died, but I'm also sad for the reason the spirit became an evil spirit. I can't explain how I felt when I finished watching this drama, I was relieved and happy but at the same time, I was also very sad and felt like crying. The writer really wrote this drama very well. I'm happy because the writer made this drama end with an open ending. Even though it's an open ending, all the problems in this drama have been resolved properly, so there's nothing that stands in the way of this drama. Everything is done, then we are left to our own imagination.
In my opinion, this is the best drama in 2023, the drama plot is very neat and has consistent quality in each episode. Minimal plot holes combine horror and mystery very well and are not too imaginative. It has a good story message, the story is also presented in a very interesting and not boring way. The acting of the actors is extraordinary and the feelings can be conveyed well to the audience.
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I'd say it was among the year's top dramas.
The twist in this drama continued until the very end; every episode was interesting. Just have patience during the first two episodes, where you would feel like it's slow or they have kept the main story in the background; the rest of the episodes would be just filler-type ghost cases solving, whereas this is not the case at all. After the first two episodes, there will be lots of twists and turns in the story, and it becomes more interesting and engaging after that. This drama can be watched not only by those who like horror stuff but also by those who like the crime and investigation genres.Was this review helpful to you?
The evil inside us!
I have to start this off by saying - what an excellent horror, crime, thriller. I am USUALLY a sucker for romcoms but this had probably 0.5% of romance and I LOVED it. Every minute of it. We binged it till 5am because there is no way you can stop. The suspense, the twists, the acting (oh Kim Tae Ri), the everything.We stepped into this expecting it to be a pure crime/horror drama but walked away with so much more. Without spoiling - the evil spirits would never have been able to do bad, to possess, without the evil and weakness inside of us.
There were definitely some small plot lines that were not tied up entirely nor explained in full but it does not affect how amazing the show is.
I love how there was no redemption arc for the biggest evil - hint, not a spirit. That it was just pure evilness with no underlying story or explanation.
12 episodes of suspense, well wrapped up. Watch it if you enjoy thriller, suspense!
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This review may contain spoilers
Humans are again scarier than ghosts/spirit
If you are looking for a thrilling story line with a touch of horror on the side, then this is the drama for you (Even me who dislike horror/thriller genre was able to watch it through the end).
The storyline itself was very interesting and intriguing. Although the ghosts are not as scary as normal horror drama but sure can still surprise you.
The plot twist was unexpected. Since the writer made the story like so, you’ll never expect the twist towards the end.
Firstly, a big round of applause to Kim Tae Ri’s acting (KTR). She portrayed her characters well (yes both her original and possessed characters). Her eyes, facial expression, movement, voice, her screams and way of talking were different between her own character and the ghost who possessed her. Sometimes we aren’t able to tell which. Her versatile acting really is beyond imagination. There’s a BTS scene where she was possessed and drank a whole 1.5 liter of water as a way of showing the thirst of the ghost that possessed her. She literally just drank it all in one go. That was amazing.
And what creeps me out was towards the last episode where it showed that the ghost has possessed her completely and tried to become her (but was blown off by her own mother). That acting was on point and scary at the same time. (I’ve seen someone being possessed before and can totally relate to that).
Oh Jung Se’s (OJS) acting was amazing. He often portrayed a playful comedic character so seeing him with serious face is another level of acting. He portrayed his character well. Especially love the part at the end where he wishes everyone to be happy and well.
Hong Kyung’s (HK) acting was on point as well. Although I haven’t see him in any other drama but his acting and portrayal of the character draws me in. The development of the character was also good. From a mere skeptic to a believer. His determination to get rid of the evil spirit got me wanting to see him more in the drama. Also, he has a soft spot for KTR’s character (San Young). Even though the writer didn’t write any romance in the drama but was able to feel Hong Sae (HK) affection and love to San Young (KTR).
Above all, it was a great thriller/horror drama in a while. I often avoid this kind of genre as I’m to scared watching it but this drama got me excited every week wanting to know more of the story. The ending was very satisfying with all the bad ones being punished and the good people try to move on with their lives. I wish they could show more of Hong Sae and San Young. Oh and the ghosts were not that scary like other horror dramas but they can be surprising at times.
Moral story of this drama that I get was that humans again are scarier than ghosts. Human’s greed and desire were what drives the ghosts/spirit to become evil. I realized this when watching the last episodes where San Young was fighting a ghost that turn out to be herself (she treated herself badly and lost motivation to live) but she gain courage to be stronger and love herself thus she was able to conquer the ghost and came out of the mirror world she was pushed to by the ghost.
Come and watch it yourself and hope you can enjoy this drama as much as I did.
Happy watching ^^
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Best Kdrama
Never regret watching this show, I've been searching for more dramas with this plot, glad that I found one. I don't want to spoil anything cos it will ruin the excitement and thrill. The actors are perfect for the role. There times that on thriller dramas/movies you'll have a hard time to grasp what's happening but here it was able to unveil the story clearly. You can feel all the emotions while watching it and also look forward for the next episode. I definitely would recommend it to everyone for them to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
My heart races when i decides to watch it
It's so good the actors the storyline definitely worth giving up everything and watching it. I have never been scared and not saying i am scared but it sure is considered scary for me like i have to mentally prepare myself to get into the theme and just keep myself on the hook so I don't exit because it's scary lol. It's so good deserves all kind of awards it could get. It has dug a fear in my heart to like some superstitions i believe in was actually shown and like i was warned about these by my mom and actually seeing it like that scared the shit out of me tbvhWas this review helpful to you?
